Halifax, NS - QEII Health Sciences Centre patients with heart disease, brain tumours, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, aneurysms and some cancers now have access to the most sophisticated MRI system in Atlantic Canada.
Thanks to QEII Foundation donors $3.1-million was raised for the new 3T MRI system, including a significant $2.5-million gift from the Gauthier and David families. With this new 3T MRI, the QEII can now scan an additional 50 clinical patient cases a week. While patients requiring urgent exams will continue to receive MRIs as soon as possible, having the additional 3T will lower the elective waitlist by two days every month.
The QEII currently has two 1.5T MRIs; the new 3T MRI has unique capability. "The 3T MRI will allow our patients appropriate access to sophisticated clinical MRI," says Dr. David Barnes, chief of diagnostic imaging at the QEII. "Thanks to the QEII Foundation and its forward-thinking donors, the staff at the QEII are already ahead of the curve with this exceptional technology, and patients in Atlantic Canada are benefiting today."
Paul Gauthier is pleased with the impact the new MRI will have on patient care and wait times. "We gave to the QEII Foundation because my family believes in making a significant difference in the lives of patients and the care they receive. The QEII delivers exceptional care and we wanted to help shorten the time that patients wait for life-saving care."
Thanks to the high-strength imaging capability of the new 3T MRI, it is also enabling advanced education opportunities and new research studies to progress beyond what was originally possible in Nova Scotia. The 3T MRI will also be used in health research across a wide variety of diseases and disorders, such as new cancer therapeutics, mental health treatments, and the development of new medical technology advancements. Having the 3T MRI further enhances the QEII's health research and academic mandate, product development and commercialization ability.
"The 3T MRI represents a significant step forward for patient care today, and in the future, through research," says Dr. Patrick McGrath, integrated VP research and innovation.
"The 3T MRI will allow research groups in the life sciences sector like BIOTIC, which develops medical technologies and new imaging techniques for diagnosing and monitoring treatment, to translate our research and technologies internationally. Thus the 3T MRI will provide not only a huge benefit to patients but also significant economic impact to our province."
The QEII sees more than one-million patient visits a year from across Atlantic Canada, with the diagnostic imaging department having 350,000 visits. With patients having earlier access to diagnostic services, health providers can make more timely and accurate decisions about future care options, making a significant difference in a patient's outcome.
"Our focus at the QEII Foundation is advancing health care for patients at the QEII," says Bill Bean, president and CEO of the QEII Foundation. "Thanks to donors like the Gauthier and David families, the new 3T MRI will not only improve care, but provide an incredible opportunity for our research community to improve future care at the QEII."
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